I was recently watching a movie, Into The Wild, that involved a scene with Salvation Mountain out near Niland, CA, and it got me thinking of a thread where we list off our favorite roadside stops, attractions, and places to eat.
What are some of your favorite places you've ever stopped on a road trip? A few that come to mind for me are:
- Wall Drug. It's a tourist trap, but with all the billboards, it's worth seeing at least once.
- The Olive Pit (Corning, CA). It's a great restroom stop en route up to Oregon, and has some great olive oils, tapenades, etc.
- The Big Texan steakhouse in Amarillo, TX. It again, is a tourist trap. While I never took on the insane eating challenge, it was an interesting stopover, and the steak I had was pretty damn good!
What are some of your favorite stops? Are they touristy? Delicious? Both? :D
South of the Border on I-95 at the NC/SC line. The signs start way up near DC with miles to go. Tacky tourist trap but an I-95 tradition!
The Varsity in Atlanta is a favorite lunch stop because I love the onion rings.
I liked South of the Border when I was younger, but it's been looking very seedy the last couple of times I've driven past. I understand it's gone downhill big-time since the longtime owner died in 2001, and I must say it's very disappointing how the old un-PC billboards are almost all gone and have been replaced by sanitized versions that aren't very funny.
When I was a kid we frequently stopped at the Town & Country Diner in Bordentown, NJ, en route to or from New York (this was back when northbound I-295 dumped you onto US-130 near Bordentown–at the time, my parents didn't know about the shorter way across from Turnpike Exit 7 and so they would take Exit 7A to connect via I-195 and US-130). I recall the prices being reasonable and the food usually being pretty good, but then who knows what I'd think now. The diner was still there the last time I drove through Bordentown about six years ago. I recall they had spiffed up the interior a lot the last time we stopped there sometime in the late 1980s. I also remember it being a mild nuisance to stop there on the southbound trip because of the peculiarities of making U-turns in New Jersey.
Nowadays I'm stubborn about trying to see how far I can go without stopping and so I don't have any "must-stop" places these days. If I have to stop three times between DC and Florida it's one time too many. (There has to be one stop for gas somewhere in South Carolina and I try to combine that with a lunch stop, and because I'd rather be on the road as early as possible I'm willing to make a breakfast stop. If I could make just those two stops I'd be happy, but inevitably a toilet break is needed somewhere else.)
Edited to add: Almost forgot this one. We've never stopped there, but I always liked passing the sign. It's on the cross-island road on Cozumel, the one that runs east from town to Mezcalito's.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi31.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc378%2F1995hoo%2FRoad%2520sign%2520pictures%2F3858ecaa.jpg&hash=fc4b9ddf2d31fd2e43e9103a7655498518460d39)
Cafe Risque on I-75 in north Florida... never actually stopped in, but love the billboards. :)
Town & Country Diner on 130... I know exactly where that is. I don't think we ever stopped in there, but there's a place across the highway before the merge called Mastori's which was a must-go breakfast spot when I was a kid.
Quote from: bsmart on May 14, 2012, 11:13:52 AM
South of the Border on I-95 at the NC/SC line. The signs start way up near DC with miles to go. Tacky tourist trap but an I-95 tradition!
I enjoyed stopping at "SOB" on our trip down to Florida back in 2010. It was a nice little oasis between driving along the very boring I-95 in the Carolina's, even if some of the stores were a little tacky. The fireworks store is what impressed me, although we left empty handed (however we did stop on the way back north to get some fireworks at this smaller store just off I-95 near Latta, SC)
Usually when our family does long distance trips, we hesitate to stop anywhere except for food/restroom breaks because my parents are more willing to get the trip over with. However, we did discover this nice little roadside diner along NY 199 (about a mile off the Taconic State Parkway to the east of Red Hook/Rhinebeck) that we try to make in effort to stop at every time we head home from Albany. The place is called Fork in the Road, and the food is very decent.
halfway between Fairbanks & Anchorage try "Skinny Dick's Halfway Inn"
All of mine are neither touristy nor delicious. They include the world's largest potato on Prince Edward Island, world's largest umpire in Iowa, Dateland AZ, world's largest ball of twine and only underground salt mine museum in Kansas. Basically, my favorite roadside attractions are Americana (or in PEI's case, Canadiana), things unique to each part of the country that haven't been molested by tourism and that you won't find anywhere else. I'll admit for accuracy's sake that in some cases, these can end up being touristy (Niagara Falls, for example) or delicious (Nick Tahou's in Rochester) or both (Anchor Bar in Buffalo), but I basically don't account for that when I decide what to see.
My favorite stop on I-80 was the Nut Tree which unfortunately closed back in the 90's. As a kid, we would always stop there anytime we were coming home from a weekend in Tahoe. I remember they had some great ice cream and we always took the miniature train that circled the property and made a stop at the Vacaville/Nut Tree Airport located in the back. I also remember the candy shop where you buy your train tickets and the large gift shop where my folks would pick up some nuts and breads. Ahhh... the Nut Tree does bring back some good memories.
Most everything in Wall Drug is made in China so that was disappointing to me.
My favorite establishment (restaurant and formerly gas station) name is on US 31 in Tipton County, Indiana: "Sherrill's Eat Here and get Gas"
Gowan's Oak Tree, on route 128 in Mendocino County, California. Some of the best apple cider, dozens of varieties of apples and other produce. They've been there since the 1920s, their orchards adjoin the stand, and they bred some of their own varieties. Now I want to go back.
Quote from: bsmart on May 14, 2012, 11:13:52 AM
South of the Border on I-95 at the NC/SC line. The signs start way up near DC with miles to go. Tacky tourist trap but an I-95 tradition!
There was once a Pedro billboard on I-95 in Baltimore City, Maryland southbound approaching the Fort McHenry Tunnel toll plaza (well over 400 miles before South of the Border), but that's been gone for years.
I am not aware of even one billboard being there now on I-95 for South of the Border now between the Maryland/Delaware line and the North Carolina/Virginia line.
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 14, 2012, 11:25:39 AM
The Varsity in Atlanta is a favorite lunch stop because I love the onion rings.
Agreed.
Highly. Unhealthy.
Tasty food to be had at the Varsity.
QuoteI liked South of the Border when I was younger, but it's been looking very seedy the last couple of times I've driven past. I understand it's gone downhill big-time since the longtime owner died in 2001, and I must say it's very disappointing how the old un-PC billboards are almost all gone and have been replaced by sanitized versions that aren't very funny.
Some distant relatives of my wife are the people that own it. Not sure who died in 2001, but it's still run by the same family.
As an aside, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke (a South Carolina native who has an I-95 interchange [190] named in his honor by SCDOT) once worked at South of the Border.
[
snipped]
QuoteNowadays I'm stubborn about trying to see how far I can go without stopping and so I don't have any "must-stop" places these days. If I have to stop three times between DC and Florida it's one time too many. (There has to be one stop for gas somewhere in South Carolina and I try to combine that with a lunch stop, and because I'd rather be on the road as early as possible I'm willing to make a breakfast stop. If I could make just those two stops I'd be happy, but inevitably a toilet break is needed somewhere else.)
Speaking of unhealthy, I always try to stop at a Waffle House someplace along I-95. I have a particular fondness for the one in Selma, North Carolina (just north of Smithfield), off of U.S. 70 at Exit 97, because the place seems very clean and the service is consistently friendly.
Quote from: cpzilliacus
I am not aware of even one billboard being there now on I-95 for South of the Border now between the Maryland/Delaware line and the North Carolina/Virginia line.
I think there's still one south of Richmond near VA 150-895.
Quote from: Takumi on May 14, 2012, 08:14:24 PM
Quote from: cpzilliacus
I am not aware of even one billboard being there now on I-95 for South of the Border now between the Maryland/Delaware line and the North Carolina/Virginia line.
I think there's still one south of Richmond near VA 150-895.
Thanks for mentioning that.
I almost always use I-295 to bypass the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (except when I have business in Richmond), so that's the one part of I-95 in Virginia (from Exit 46 south of Petersburg to Exit 74 in Richmond) that I don't drive very often.
Though in my opinion, South of the Border should spend their billboard dollars on a sign along I-295 and not the RPT, since that's where more of their customers are likely to see their sign.
For me as a kid, a regular stop when driving between Las Vegas and southern California was the McDonald's in Barstow (Barstow Station). I always thought the fast food store inside a big gift shop was neat, and I liked eating in the train car.
Whenever I drive between Reno and Las Vegas on US 95 with my buddy, we always stop in Beatty, NV at "Eddie World". Inside the gas station is also the "Death Valley Nut & Candy Co.", which has all sorts of bulk nut and candy--they recently opened a Subway inside as well. Until recently, these were also the nicest restrooms on that drive (recently surpassed by a Chevron/Burger King/Subway in Tonopah).
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 14, 2012, 08:10:04 PM
....
QuoteI liked South of the Border when I was younger, but it's been looking very seedy the last couple of times I've driven past. I understand it's gone downhill big-time since the longtime owner died in 2001, and I must say it's very disappointing how the old un-PC billboards are almost all gone and have been replaced by sanitized versions that aren't very funny.
Some distant relatives of my wife are the people that own it. Not sure who died in 2001, but it's still run by the same family.
As an aside, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke (a South Carolina native who has an I-95 interchange [190] named in his honor by SCDOT) once worked at South of the Border.
....
The guy who died in 2001 was named Alan Schafer. Supposedly he founded what became South of the Border in 1950 or so as a beer stand selling to residents of the dry counties across the state line and he got the idea for the Mexican theme when he received boxes addressed to him "south of the border." I read somewhere that his grandson now runs the place. As I said, I haven't stopped there in quite some time. Maybe this summer. My wife has never been there and we didn't stop the last two times due to timing on one trip and bad weather on the other.
QuoteQuoteNowadays I'm stubborn about trying to see how far I can go without stopping and so I don't have any "must-stop" places these days. If I have to stop three times between DC and Florida it's one time too many. (There has to be one stop for gas somewhere in South Carolina and I try to combine that with a lunch stop, and because I'd rather be on the road as early as possible I'm willing to make a breakfast stop. If I could make just those two stops I'd be happy, but inevitably a toilet break is needed somewhere else.)
Speaking of unhealthy, I always try to stop at a Waffle House someplace along I-95. I have a particular fondness for the one in Selma, North Carolina (just north of Smithfield), off of U.S. 70 at Exit 97, because the place seems very clean and the service is consistently friendly.
I believe Exit 97 is the one where that big JR Tobacco outlet is, right? I've stopped at that exit a few times, though not at the Waffle House. If I'm driving south we'll have stopped for breakfast prior to getting that far and it won't be time for lunch yet, and if we're driving north we'll have stopped somewhere in South Carolina (most recent trip we stopped at a Waffle House near Walterboro). But we like to hit a Waffle House somewhere as well. The nearest Waffle House to where we live is on VA-234 in Dumfries and it's probably a good thing it isn't closer–when I was in law school, I visited the Waffle House on Hillsborough Road in Durham so often that the waitress didn't even need to ask me for my order. (BTW, the Barnside Diner on VA-236 just west of Beauregard Street is pretty good, but the hash browns can't come close to Waffle House hash browns.)
Regarding the billboards, I also haven't been on I-95 between Richmond and Petersburg in several years because we also use I-295 unless we're heading to or from I-85 (and even then, if it's around rush hour we sometimes use I-295 anyway). I do remember an SOB billboard going up somewhere along that part of I-95 back in the early 1990s, though. It definitely seems to me that there are FAR fewer of the billboards in North Carolina and South Carolina than there were 20 years ago. I guess when they removed the funny ones they didn't replace a lot of them. I saw an article at some point during the 1990s saying that the Schafer family wanted to expand the billboards even further north near the Canadian border, but that never happened and I always thought it sounded absurd.
The McDonald's on the Chicago Skyway and the Mobil/Dunkin Donuts on either side of the Deegan Expressway in the Bronx are neat for being odd roadside stops on the interstate itself.
Anywhere else like this (not counting turnpike service plazas)?
Quote from: MrDisco99 on May 15, 2012, 01:33:13 PM
The McDonald's on the Chicago Skyway and the Mobil/Dunkin Donuts on either side of the Deegan Expressway in the Bronx are neat for being odd roadside stops on the interstate itself.
Anywhere else like this (not counting turnpike service plazas)?
There's a Mobil station on the Belt Parkway just south/west of the Flatbush Avenue interchange. I always thought that was odd.
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 15, 2012, 05:58:52 PM
Quote from: MrDisco99 on May 15, 2012, 01:33:13 PM
The McDonald's on the Chicago Skyway and the Mobil/Dunkin Donuts on either side of the Deegan Expressway in the Bronx are neat for being odd roadside stops on the interstate itself.
Anywhere else like this (not counting turnpike service plazas)?
There's a Mobil station on the Belt Parkway just south/west of the Flatbush Avenue interchange. I always thought that was odd.
See, that stuff can fly on parkways (see Merritt), but I'll never understand how it got onto the Deegan.
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 15, 2012, 09:31:57 AM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 14, 2012, 08:10:04 PM
....
QuoteI liked South of the Border when I was younger, but it's been looking very seedy the last couple of times I've driven past. I understand it's gone downhill big-time since the longtime owner died in 2001, and I must say it's very disappointing how the old un-PC billboards are almost all gone and have been replaced by sanitized versions that aren't very funny.
Some distant relatives of my wife are the people that own it. Not sure who died in 2001, but it's still run by the same family.
As an aside, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke (a South Carolina native who has an I-95 interchange [190] named in his honor by SCDOT) once worked at South of the Border.
....
The guy who died in 2001 was named Alan Schafer. Supposedly he founded what became South of the Border in 1950 or so as a beer stand selling to residents of the dry counties across the state line and he got the idea for the Mexican theme when he received boxes addressed to him "south of the border." I read somewhere that his grandson now runs the place. As I said, I haven't stopped there in quite some time. Maybe this summer. My wife has never been there and we didn't stop the last two times due to timing on one trip and bad weather on the other.
I have stopped there once (since 2001) - and we spoke with one of the Schafers that runs the place now. Got a few gag gifts for my Dad's birthday (the place is an excellent source for that).
I recall reading (years ago) an article in the Wall Street Journal which described the origins of South of the Border.
QuoteQuoteQuoteNowadays I'm stubborn about trying to see how far I can go without stopping and so I don't have any "must-stop" places these days. If I have to stop three times between DC and Florida it's one time too many. (There has to be one stop for gas somewhere in South Carolina and I try to combine that with a lunch stop, and because I'd rather be on the road as early as possible I'm willing to make a breakfast stop. If I could make just those two stops I'd be happy, but inevitably a toilet break is needed somewhere else.)
Speaking of unhealthy, I always try to stop at a Waffle House someplace along I-95. I have a particular fondness for the one in Selma, North Carolina (just north of Smithfield), off of U.S. 70 at Exit 97, because the place seems very clean and the service is consistently friendly.
I believe Exit 97 is the one where that big JR Tobacco outlet is, right? I've stopped at that exit a few times, though not at the Waffle House. If I'm driving south we'll have stopped for breakfast prior to getting that far and it won't be time for lunch yet, and if we're driving north we'll have stopped somewhere in South Carolina (most recent trip we stopped at a Waffle House near Walterboro).
That would be the correct interchange. The Waffle House is on the west side of I-95 (JR is on the east side).
QuoteBut we like to hit a Waffle House somewhere as well. The nearest Waffle House to where we live is on VA-234 in Dumfries and it's probably a good thing it isn't closer–when I was in law school, I visited the Waffle House on Hillsborough Road in Durham so often that the waitress didn't even need to ask me for my order. (BTW, the Barnside Diner on VA-236 just west of Beauregard Street is pretty good, but the hash browns can't come close to Waffle House hash browns.)
I've been to the Va. 234 Waffle House a few times. Seems to be popular with some of the Marines from MCB Quantico for lunch (and those guys can probably eat at a Waffle House every day with limited ill effect).
I will check out the Barnside sometime. Driven by there many times.
QuoteRegarding the billboards, I also haven't been on I-95 between Richmond and Petersburg in several years because we also use I-295 unless we're heading to or from I-85 (and even then, if it's around rush hour we sometimes use I-295 anyway). I do remember an SOB billboard going up somewhere along that part of I-95 back in the early 1990s, though. It definitely seems to me that there are FAR fewer of the billboards in North Carolina and South Carolina than there were 20 years ago. I guess when they removed the funny ones they didn't replace a lot of them. I saw an article at some point during the 1990s saying that the Schafer family wanted to expand the billboards even further north near the Canadian border, but that never happened and I always thought it sounded absurd.
Some of the SOB billboards in the Carolinas
apparently fell victim to 1980's and 1990's storms like Hurricanes Hugo, and Floyd, and were not replaced (at least not by Pedro signs).
QuoteThe McDonald's on the Chicago Skyway and the Mobil/Dunkin Donuts on either side of the Deegan Expressway in the Bronx are neat for being odd roadside stops on the interstate itself.
Is it one of those places where the restaurant is over the highway itself? I recall several of those in the Chicago area, especially along either 94 or 294. It's been years, so maybe I don't recall that correctly.
Quote from: OCGuy81 on May 16, 2012, 12:38:38 AM
QuoteThe McDonald's on the Chicago Skyway and the Mobil/Dunkin Donuts on either side of the Deegan Expressway in the Bronx are neat for being odd roadside stops on the interstate itself.
Is it one of those places where the restaurant is over the highway itself? I recall several of those in the Chicago area, especially along either 94 or 294. It's been years, so maybe I don't recall that correctly.
The Skyway McDonald's (http://maps.google.com/?ll=41.733681,-87.563868&spn=0.001457,0.001929&t=h&z=19) is immediately southeast of the toll plazas between the carriageways. It's very unlike the typical ISTHA oasis (which all except DeKalb go over the road).
I stopped at the oasis on I-90 just before you get to I-39 (forget the name) and it appeared that the over-the-road portion was strictly for seating. The restaurants were located at either end of the "skywalk" on land.
Anyone remember Stuckey's? I recall one with a tacky gift shop on US 41 just NW of Milwaukee when I was a kid. Few traces of that one still exist.
Also, has anyone ever checked out the Marrs Cheese Castle on I-94 in Kenosha County, WI?
Mike
The only stop I regularly make on longer road trips is the Belle Plaine Service Area on the Kansas Turnpike. Perfect place to update the map collection.
The "Worlds Largest McDonalds" in Vinita, OK is neat but I avoid it because I've found that it has terrible service. When going that way I tend to either eat in Tulsa or Joplin.
The Midway Diner in Midway, PA along I-78 is a hit with truckers on the CB. Diners in general score well with me.
In Fort Lauderdale, FL you have Lester's Diner on FL 84 just east of I-95 that is the only one of its kind in Florida.
Wall Drug in SD is one I stopped at to check out! I forgot my FREE glass of water though.
Hershey's Chocolate World in Hershey, PA is a great place and open year round.
Too bad the Red Apple Rest in Southfields, NY is closed now.
In Louisiana, I like the Atchafalaya Welcome Center on I-10. It's got a mini-museum with a movie inside :D
Hot Dog Johnny's on US46 in Buttzville, NJ.
Quote from: mgk920 on May 16, 2012, 11:59:00 AM
Anyone remember Stuckey's? I recall one with a tacky gift shop on US 41 just NW of Milwaukee when I was a kid. Few traces of that one still exist.
At least in the East, they normally had a Texaco gas station attached.
Recall the Stuckey's pecan logs (which, IMO, were not that good)?
Last Stuckey's I remember seeing was on U.S. 301 in King George County, Virginia (not so far south of the Gov. Harry Nice Bridge).
After checking Google, it seems that Stuckey's has not completely died. They have a Web site here (http://www.stuckeys.com/).
Lea's lunch room/cafe in Lacompte La. just south of Alexandria on U.S. 71. I haven't been through there in ages. It's still in business I think. They were noted for their fried chicken. ham sandwiches and great homemade pies.
Mark
Quote from: mgk920 on May 16, 2012, 11:59:00 AM
Anyone remember Stuckey's? I recall one with a tacky gift shop on US 41 just NW of Milwaukee when I was a kid. Few traces of that one still exist.
Also, has anyone ever checked out the Marrs Cheese Castle on I-94 in Kenosha County, WI?
I frequent the Mar's Cheese Castle when i go up to Grandma's in Oshkosh. They just built the New building which is 3 times as big as the old one right next door to it. Best 4 yr old cheddar on the planet is there. I can never remember though which exit it is. I think it is Hwy 142 / Hwy S.
I am surprised no one has mention the Brat Stop also in Kenosha on Hwy 50 just west of I-94. You name a flavor and they likely have that flavor brat. The Garlic and Original are the best.
I am also surprised the Iowa 80 Truck Stop in Walcott (west of Davenport) has not been mentioned. World's largest truck stop. I frequent that as well when storm chasing in Iowa.
BTW HBElkins, the name of the Oasis you were asking about earlier on I-90 is the Belvidere Oasis.
Quote from: jas on May 17, 2012, 07:41:00 PM
Hot Dog Johnny's on US46 in Buttzville, NJ.
Now your talking! I cannot believe I left that one out.
Also, I left out one more. Then there is a restaurant in Homer, NY on US 11 shaped like an octagon near the Homer Spur of I-81. I plan to check it out as I am going there to Upstate in a few weeks. Hope it is still there. Unfortuneatley I do not remember its name.
I typically make the same drive over and over, and my stops are based on mileage.
BUT.
When I lived near Chicago, and I was passing anywhere near Bellwood, I stopped for a meal at the Deluxe Grill at Mannheim and Lake (http://g.co/maps/phrsy (http://g.co/maps/phrsy)). A total greasy spoon in a seedy neighborhood, but the food and the clientele are total Americana.
When I drove a delivery route in southern Illinois, I tried to stop at the Rend Lake rest area on I-57 south to take my lunch. I drove a truck without air conditioning and, during the summer months, I would walk down to the water's edge away from everybody (http://g.co/maps/3bs4u (http://g.co/maps/3bs4u)) and go for a skinny dip in the lake.
The Phillips 66 station in Ozark, Missouri, has a long history in my wife's family, mainly because it has historically had the cheapest gas anywhere around. Her grandparents have even been known to drive from Minnesota to Branson, get too tired to make it all the way, and sleep in Ozark (30 miles away :rolleyes:). It is still The Place to meet up with people we know in the area. In Branson itself, we always used to go to Tran's Chinese restaurant on the Strip with friends and family; now it's been replaced with a Mexican restaurant, and we're all mad about it.
Driving to México, we always stop right on the RÃo Grande bridge (it's a slow border crossing) and take a picture of the group next to the official border plaque.
Another great stop is the Iowa 80 truck stop in Walcott, Iowa. They say it's the largest truck stop.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 18, 2012, 11:18:55 AM
Last Stuckey's I remember seeing was on U.S. 301 in King George County, Virginia (not so far south of the Gov. Harry Nice Bridge).
After checking Google, it seems that Stuckey's has not completely died. They have a Web site here (http://www.stuckeys.com/).
I saw one today on US 58 in South Hill (or possibly La Crosse).
Y'know, there are certain celebrities who are famous for being famous.
In the 1950s-60s any female with the last name of Gabor would qualify.
In the 1970s, it was Charo. Nowadays, any Kardashian fills the bill.
Among roadside attractions, Wall Drug is kinda like that.
--
Brian Reynolds
Hastings Michigan
Quote from: hobsini2 on May 18, 2012, 12:58:40 PM
Quote from: mgk920 on May 16, 2012, 11:59:00 AM
Anyone remember Stuckey's? I recall one with a tacky gift shop on US 41 just NW of Milwaukee when I was a kid. Few traces of that one still exist.
Also, has anyone ever checked out the Marrs Cheese Castle on I-94 in Kenosha County, WI?
I frequent the Mar's Cheese Castle when i go up to Grandma's in Oshkosh. They just built the New building which is 3 times as big as the old one right next door to it. Best 4 yr old cheddar on the planet is there. I can never remember though which exit it is. I think it is Hwy 142 / Hwy S.
IIRC, the Cheese Castle had to build a new building because WisDOT needed the site of the old one for ROW for their current I-94 upgrade project.
Mike
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 14, 2012, 08:16:29 PM
Quote from: Takumi on May 14, 2012, 08:14:24 PM
Quote from: cpzilliacus
I am not aware of even one billboard being there now on I-95 for South of the Border now between the Maryland/Delaware line and the North Carolina/Virginia line.
I think there's still one south of Richmond near VA 150-895.
Thanks for mentioning that.
I almost always use I-295 to bypass the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (except when I have business in Richmond), so that's the one part of I-95 in Virginia (from Exit 46 south of Petersburg to Exit 74 in Richmond) that I don't drive very often.
Though in my opinion, South of the Border should spend their billboard dollars on a sign along I-295 and not the RPT, since that's where more of their customers are likely to see their sign.
Hate to necro, but I just wanted to update that this South of the Border billboard is gone.
Quote from: hbelkins on May 16, 2012, 10:07:58 AM
I stopped at the oasis on I-90 just before you get to I-39 (forget the name) and it appeared that the over-the-road portion was strictly for seating. The restaurants were located at either end of the "skywalk" on land.
That's the Belvidere Oasis, and it also has a gas station and a car wash. I think I lost at least a half hour there last time.
Growing up in the 50's, a must see roadside stop was the Nut Tree on I-80, (it was US 40 then). In additon to a great food stop, there was a small train fot kids to go thru the orchards and even an airport. This was in Vacaville,CA between SF and Tahoe. I am not sure if it is still there.
Other tourist traps that are worth the stop: Hole in the Wall, Moab UT, built in a cave along side a cliff.
The Big Texan, Amarillo TX. Great if you enjoy watching oter people puke while stuffing a 72 OZ. steak down in an hour's time
Bode's General Store on US 84 Abiquiu, NM. Where Georgia O'Keefe got her hunting license. Best general store in NM, but it is gettting pricey.
Dude, fix your damn spacing.
In-N-Out Burger in Redding. For Oregonians, it's a mandatory stop for any California trip :P
Quote from: sandiaman on June 29, 2012, 03:10:12 PM
Growing up in the 50's, a must see roadside stop was the Nut Tree on I-80 ... I am not sure if it is still there.
Dude, fix your damn spacing.
No it is not there anymore. See my post on this topic... https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=6699.msg148826#msg148826
IIRC, the (general aviation) airport is still there and it's still called the "Nut Tree Airport".
Quote from: doorknob60 on June 30, 2012, 01:19:29 AM
In-N-Out Burger in Redding. For Oregonians, it's a mandatory stop for any California trip :P
In-N-Out in Auburn used to be a mandatory stop for anybody from the Reno heading anywhere in northern California via I-80. It kinda still is a frequent stop, but not nearly as necessary now that In-N-Out has locations in Reno.
Speaking of mandatory, any drive between Dallas and Austin requires a stop in West, TX for kolaches.
I'm very sad to see Lambert's Cafe of Sikeston, Missouri was not mentioned once here.
I and my family drive 200 miles (approximately) there about 2-4 times every year! My favorite restaurant, it's Exit 67 off I-55.
I'll agree I loved visiting Wall Drug and seeing all the billboards on I-29 and I-90 on my fall 2008 trip! It's more advertised on I-90 than Meramec Caverns on I-44! :-D
Quote from: roadfro on June 30, 2012, 10:48:36 PM
Quote from: doorknob60 on June 30, 2012, 01:19:29 AM
In-N-Out Burger in Redding. For Oregonians, it's a mandatory stop for any California trip :P
In-N-Out in Auburn used to be a mandatory stop for anybody from the Reno heading anywhere in northern California via I-80. It kinda still is a frequent stop, but not nearly as necessary now that In-N-Out has locations in Reno.
My mandatory stop in Auburn on my way to and from Reno is Ikeda's off of the Foresthill exit on I-80. It's run by a Japanese-American family and they have great produce, excellent fresh-baked pies and a very good burger shack. The place is so popular, finding parking on the weekends is next to impossible unless you're there before noon.
I exited off I-95 at the NC/SC line to claim (mumble) County in South Carolina as one of my visited counties during my trip last month, and drove through, for the very first time, the exercise in gaudiness and ethnic stereotyping that is South of the Border. Just from seeing the outside of the place, my tackiness meter was pegged.
For years, the Sheetz at Weston, WV was a mandatory stop anytime I went to the northeast and my route involved I-79. But since Sheetz has expanded to the southwest, I usually stop at the one in Milton, off I-64, on my way somewhere or on my way home. The one at Mall Road is easy to access if you're going east, but not so much if you're headed west.
If you think South of the Border is tacky (and it certainly is), you should see it at night. I wish I had taken my DSLR on the Auto Train with me last trip south instead of leaving it securely locked in the trunk of the car. An iPhone camera was inadequate to try to capture the sight of that place all lit up at night as the train went past.
I haven't stopped at South of the Border in about 20 years but I hear it's become seriously run-down and not especially clean. Any truth to the rumors? While the place is a classic tourist trap, I'd be sorry to see it go. It's already a shame that they wound up putting up politically-correct billboards instead of the funny ones they used to have.
It seems that more often than not, we pass South of the Border in the middle of the night. Yes, that neon-covered sombrero is quite the beacon in the night. The whole place is lit up like a mini Vegas strip.
I bet it's been 30 years since my last stop there, passing it up dozens of times since. So I can't say if it's become run-down or dirty.
As for the signs, I know they lost a lot of the classics to a hurricane. I'm thinking Hugo in 1989. There have been a lot of new ones put up over the last few years, including a good number of reproductions of the classics. For those who aren't I-95 veterans, there's a partial list of billboards on the South of the Border wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_of_the_Border_%28attraction%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_of_the_Border_%28attraction%29)).
When I was a kid in the Twin Cities area, we would routinely stop at the Happy Chef in North Mankato on the way to my grandma's. They had a giant Happy Chef statue there and you could press the button and hear it talk. I don't know if it's still there.
Now that I live in the Omaha area, if I'm ever on I-80 going to or from Chicago, I routinely stop at the Iowa 80 truck stop. If it really is the world's largest, I can believe it. FWIW, Iowa 80 is the farthest away from Omaha that I ever had an unplanned encounter with someone I knew from Omaha.
I'm looking at a lot of posts about South of the Border that's off I-95 in SC. Must be really good... or is it?
Too bad I only use I-95 in SC for a little distance before turning off at where it meets US 278. :no:
Quote from: NYYPhil777 on August 11, 2012, 07:25:55 PM
I'm looking at a lot of posts about South of the Border that's off I-95 in SC. Must be really good... or is it?
Full disclosure - some distant relatives of my wife own the place.It's a kitchy place, a little run-down in my opinion, but it has one worthwhile feature - if you want low-cost "gag" type gifts for someone, South of the Border is a fine choice if you are driving by.
Quote from: NYYPhil777 on August 11, 2012, 07:25:55 PM
Too bad I only use I-95 in SC for a little distance before turning off at where it meets US 278. :no:
I believe you exit at the other end of I-95 in the Palmetto State - South of the Border is about 190 miles north of the I-95/U.S. 278 interchange.
I'm only thinking about stops that are convenient to major thoroughfares, so not counting wandering off into Route 66-land in eastern Kansas, etc.
I think my all-time favorite is the New River Gorge Bridge on U.S. 19 in West Virginia. The town on the south side of the bridge, Fayetteville, has some good places to eat (the Cathedral Cafe, a decent slices-and-brews place that I forget the name of, among others) that make for an excellent alternative to the usual highway fare.
Another great Interstate diversion is the Caverns of Sonora off of I-10 in West Texas. I only discovered it by accident in looking for a way to break up the monotony of one of the most desolate stretches of Interstate in the country, but it's really pretty spectacular. It's actually more geologically noteworthy than Carlsbad, which gets all of the plaudits because of its size, but naturally people aren't flocking to Sonora because it's in the absolute middle of nowhere, so you never have to worry about annoying crowds.
Also, as I've gotten to know the Interstate system in PA quite well, there are a number of small towns with easy access to the highway that I've turned into my "rest stops" of choice: Bedford, Carlisle, Easton, Bellefonte, to name a few.
This thread might be a little old, but I knew I wanted to make this post on this thread...
As a roadgeek, the term "roadside attraction" is ironic- after all, the attraction is the road!
By the way, the clickety-clack pavement on I-55 between St. Louis and Sikeston makes the trip better (sad to see the counties the route traverses through are replacing the pavement :no:).
Some of my favorites are:
The Tillamook Cheese Factory on US-101 just north of Tillamook, OR. Free cheese and good ice cream. Even with all the crowds you can get in and out quickly. Free self guided tours of cheese making and packaging.
Country Cousin restaurant off of I-5 in Centralia, WA. Huge cinnamon rolls. Used to stop there on every road trip to California. Before all of those factory outlets came in next door, it was a significant landmark along I-5.
Miner's Drive-In off of I-82 in Yakima, WA on its southern border with Union Gap. Good burgers and fried stuff.
Brooks House of BBQ off of I-88 in Oneonta, NY. Great charcoal grilled bbq chicken.
A new one for me is Ranch House BBQ right along SR-8 (part of the US-12, SR-8, US-101 mainline between Aberdeen and Olympia, WA). It is in the middle of nowhere but always has a crowd. It is located about 5 miles west of the US-101 junction in the Summit Lake area between Olympia and McCleary. Best BBQ I have had west of Texas and right on the way to the ocean.
Quote from: sandiaman on June 29, 2012, 03:10:12 PM
Growing up in the 50's, a must see roadside stop was the Nut Tree on I-80, (it was US 40 then). In additon to a great food stop, there was a small train fot kids to go thru the orchards and even an airport. This was in Vacaville,CA between SF and Tahoe. I am not sure if it is still there.
My dad always mentioned this when we passed through Vacaville on the way to the Bay Area when I was a kid. It was still there in the early 90's, but we didn't stop in.
Quote from: Landshark on September 03, 2012, 01:03:59 AM
Some of my favorites are:
The Tillamook Cheese Factory on US-101 just north of Tillamook, OR. Free cheese and good ice cream. Even with all the crowds you can get in and out quickly. Free self guided tours of cheese making and packaging.
Country Cousin restaurant off of I-5 in Centralia, WA. Huge cinnamon rolls. Used to stop there on every road trip to California. Before all of those factory outlets came in next door, it was a significant landmark along I-5.
Miner's Drive-In off of I-82 in Yakima, WA on its southern border with Union Gap. Good burgers and fried stuff.
Brooks House of BBQ off of I-88 in Oneonta, NY. Great charcoal grilled bbq chicken.
A new one for me is Ranch House BBQ right along SR-8 (part of the US-12, SR-8, US-101 mainline between Aberdeen and Olympia, WA). It is in the middle of nowhere but always has a crowd. It is located about 5 miles west of the US-101 junction in the Summit Lake area between Olympia and McCleary. Best BBQ I have had west of Texas and right on the way to the ocean.
Quote from: sandiaman on June 29, 2012, 03:10:12 PM
Growing up in the 50's, a must see roadside stop was the Nut Tree on I-80, (it was US 40 then). In additon to a great food stop, there was a small train fot kids to go thru the orchards and even an airport. This was in Vacaville,CA between SF and Tahoe. I am not sure if it is still there.
My dad always mentioned this when we passed through Vacaville on the way to the Bay Area when I was a kid. It was still there in the early 90's, but we didn't stop in.
I Googled the Nut Tree, yes, it's still there. Unfortunately, it's more of a strip mall than a roadside attraction. At least that what it looked like in my opinion.
Has anyone driving south of Nashville actually ever seen Rock City?
Quote from: MrDisco99 on May 14, 2012, 11:39:13 AM
Cafe Risque on I-75 in north Florida... never actually stopped in, but love the billboards. :)
Ehh, I think the girls on the billboard are kind of ugly. I also think it's a chain, because I've swear I've seen some other Cafe Risque locations along I-95 in other parts of the south.
Anyone remember that line from Mike Starr in "Ed Wood" about how those "repressed Oakies" love all that kinky stuff?
Anytime I'm down south, Krystal's is a must stop. When I'm in Syracuse, I have to stop at Heid's in Liverpool. Some of my favorite attractions are the Louisville Slugger Museum, the Pro Football HOF, the Baseball HOF, and the Country Music HOF Museum.
Quote from: NYYPhil777 on September 03, 2012, 05:13:19 AM
I Googled the Nut Tree, yes, it's still there. Unfortunately, it's more of a strip mall than a roadside attraction. At least that what it looked like in my opinion.
It's "still there" but in name only. All of the rides, attractions and shops were torn down in the mid-90's only to be replaced with a large shopping center about a decade later.
Edit: the airport is still there and I believe it's still called the Vacaville-Nut Tree Airport.
On NY 431, the Whiteface Mountain Summit is mandatory for anyone clinching the road, especially since to clinch it you have to pay for admission anyways.
Nobody has mentioned The World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD (off I-90)? For shame.
Quote from: Special K on September 06, 2012, 04:08:54 PM
Nobody has mentioned The World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD (off I-90)? For shame.
I've been there, I was very disappointed by the Corn Palace. I expected the Corn Palace to be closer to I-90, when it was in the middle of town. And the most unexpected thing about it is... it was the city hall and when I was there, it wasn't open to the public. Only its neighboring knick-knack shops were open.
Quote from: NYYPhil777 on September 07, 2012, 08:20:15 PM
Quote from: Special K on September 06, 2012, 04:08:54 PM
Nobody has mentioned The World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD (off I-90)? For shame.
I've been there, I was very disappointed by the Corn Palace. I expected the Corn Palace to be closer to I-90, when it was in the middle of town. And the most unexpected thing about it is... it was the city hall and when I was there, it wasn't open to the public. Only its neighboring knick-knack shops were open.
Worth driving by for a photograph? I can't imagine there's much else out there.
Quote from: Steve on September 07, 2012, 11:08:47 PM
Quote from: NYYPhil777 on September 07, 2012, 08:20:15 PM
Quote from: Special K on September 06, 2012, 04:08:54 PM
Nobody has mentioned The World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD (off I-90)? For shame.
I've been there, I was very disappointed by the Corn Palace. I expected the Corn Palace to be closer to I-90, when it was in the middle of town. And the most unexpected thing about it is... it was the city hall and when I was there, it wasn't open to the public. Only its neighboring knick-knack shops were open.
Worth driving by for a photograph? I can't imagine there's much else out there.
There's always Mount Rushmore and Wall Drug. Murdo even has an auto museum off I-90 and further west is an 1880's themed attraction off the same highway.
Whatever. Old US 16 should be enough reason to drive through town.
Has nobody mentioned the World's Largest Prairie Dog (http://www.worldslargestthings.com/kansas/prairiedog.htm) in Oakley (KS) yet? Oh, for shame! How can a four-ton concrete prairie dog–barely hidden from highway view and surrounded by freak farm animals with birth defects–not make the top of everyone's list?
That's certainly more impressive than the bird sculptures on I-81 a mile south of NY 12 (exit 50). They're only visible southbound, at the top of a hill, and by some trees, so you can't see them until you're right on top of them. Better be quick with the camera; it took me 5-6 attempts to get a picture of them, and it's not a very good picture at that.
It's not really a stop though, unless you pull onto the shoulder.
Quote from: NYYPhil777 on September 07, 2012, 08:20:15 PM
Quote from: Special K on September 06, 2012, 04:08:54 PM
Nobody has mentioned The World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD (off I-90)? For shame.
I've been there, I was very disappointed by the Corn Palace. I expected the Corn Palace to be closer to I-90, when it was in the middle of town. And the most unexpected thing about it is... it was the city hall and when I was there, it wasn't open to the public. Only its neighboring knick-knack shops were open.
'
The Corn Palace is not the City Hall, although they are attached. Besides, the exterior is the attraction. The interior is, for the most part, an auditorium/basketball arena.
Quote from: Special K on September 09, 2012, 12:28:04 AM
Quote from: NYYPhil777 on September 07, 2012, 08:20:15 PM
Quote from: Special K on September 06, 2012, 04:08:54 PM
Nobody has mentioned The World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD (off I-90)? For shame.
I've been there, I was very disappointed by the Corn Palace. I expected the Corn Palace to be closer to I-90, when it was in the middle of town. And the most unexpected thing about it is... it was the city hall and when I was there, it wasn't open to the public. Only its neighboring knick-knack shops were open.
'
The Corn Palace is not the City Hall, although they are attached. Besides, the exterior is the attraction. The interior is, for the most part, an auditorium/basketball arena.
Still, with that description, that reminds me of a local government-run facility.
It's also the
fourth Corn Palace that has been constructed.
C'mon... How can you not love this kitsch?
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-4rj-j5juSbM%2FTatOXWIEwmI%2FAAAAAAAAAa4%2FoH-pt5h1jQs%2Fs1600%2Fcorn-palace-topper.jpg&hash=c774e3195b0704146189947decc9fe7fd95b4a71)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dwu.edu%2Ftour%2Fimages%2Fpalace0002.jpg&hash=a3476d9887390e9f231a707977cf9f0dab41f616)
I've stopped in Mitchell 2 times, I believe. One trip, 1989 I think, it was open and there was some sort of farmers market type of event going on. Of course, we bought a sack of "Corn Palace" popcorn. Never planned to pop it. It may still be somewhere at my father's house. In 1999, it was late evening so we couldn't even see much of the exterior decoration. In 2 other trips by on I-90, I don't believe we stopped (1985 and 2001).
But really, the whole point is the exterior and just the fact that there's actually this building they call a "Corn Palace" that gets decorated with corn every year. I give the town some credit for having something to get some of the traffic off I-90 and into their town for at least a quick visit.
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 10, 2012, 12:50:58 PM
I haven't stopped at South of the Border in about 20 years but I hear it's become seriously run-down and not especially clean. Any truth to the rumors? While the place is a classic tourist trap, I'd be sorry to see it go. It's already a shame that they wound up putting up politically-correct billboards instead of the funny ones they used to have.
I can tell you this; In the 13 years I've been back and forth between Long Island and Florida, South of the Border
does look pretty run down, especially on the North Carolina side where the motels are boarded up. One time I had to drive through there to stop at a nearby post office, and it looked just as tacky as it seemed.
As for me, I still swear by Maryland House and can't get enough of it. However, there's also a barbecue shack along I-95 & US 301 somewhere south of the Davis Travel Center in Virginia that I've been curious about for years.
Quote from: Special K on September 09, 2012, 10:46:51 AM
C'mon... How can you not love this kitsch?
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-4rj-j5juSbM%2FTatOXWIEwmI%2FAAAAAAAAAa4%2FoH-pt5h1jQs%2Fs1600%2Fcorn-palace-topper.jpg&hash=c774e3195b0704146189947decc9fe7fd95b4a71)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dwu.edu%2Ftour%2Fimages%2Fpalace0002.jpg&hash=a3476d9887390e9f231a707977cf9f0dab41f616)
Don't get me wrong- I
do love the architecture of the Corn Palace. That gym looks pretty cool. It's just that I might be jealous because it wasn't open to visitors when I visited Mitchell.
I'm not trying to hurt your feelings.
I agree with Jim's post- Mitchell deserves some credit for a structure like this. The town also has a train depot-themed (or converted) restaurant called the Depot.
Quote from: D-Dey65 on September 09, 2012, 01:54:29 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 10, 2012, 12:50:58 PM
I haven't stopped at South of the Border in about 20 years but I hear it's become seriously run-down and not especially clean. Any truth to the rumors? While the place is a classic tourist trap, I'd be sorry to see it go. It's already a shame that they wound up putting up politically-correct billboards instead of the funny ones they used to have.
I can tell you this; In the 13 years I've been back and forth between Long Island and Florida, South of the Border does look prerry run down, especially on the North Carolina side where the motels are boarded up. One time I had to drive through there to stop at a nearby post office, and it looked just as tacky as it seemed.
....
Oh, no question at all about South of the Border being tacky. It was always as tacky as it seems or possibly even worse. But back when I used to make the drive down I-95 regularly (though usually only to South Carolina) and stop at South of the Border–this being the early 1990s through about 1995–the place was relatively clean and well-maintained, though obviously a complete tourist trap. The food wasn't terrible and was reasonably priced. But I've seen various comments online that the place has gone downhill recently and is a bit dilapidated, dirty toilets, etc. I don't know if that's true because we don't stop there when we go through nowadays (now that I've started making the I-95 drive again).
I wonder to what extent places like that suffer a bit from the ever-increasing prevalence of sat-nav devices and smartphone apps that will tell you what else is around in terms of places to stop.
Quote from: NYYPhil777 on September 09, 2012, 06:44:02 PM
I'm not trying to hurt your feelings.
I agree with Jim's post- Mitchell deserves some credit for a structure like this. The town also has a train depot-themed (or converted) restaurant called the Depot.
You needn't worry about my feelings. While I'm originally from Mitchell, the CP was never that big a deal to me. It's just the thing *everyone* mentions when I tell them where I grew up.
The Depot is indeed the old RR depot. Mitchell used to have a fairly important yard, complete with turntable and roundhouse, if you're into the RR stuff.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on September 11, 2012, 09:48:27 AM
Quote from: kphoger on September 11, 2012, 09:28:37 AM
I had painful dry heaves south of the border once. Shouldn't have trusted the roadside salsa from the bus stop in Villa Ahumada. But that's beside the point.
I have never had bad food in Mexico. probably happens, but I've come out okay so far.
I have had
superb food in Baja California, and even in Tijuana (better some distance away from Avenida Revolución), though this was quite a few years before the drug cartel wars got going.
Years ago, my Dad did make the mistake of drinking the water someplace in Baja California, and he got a bad case of Montezuma's Revenge.
I've had painful poos and heaves from good old U.S. chain restaurants, so there's that. On a parallel note, I'm getting more sensitive to grease as I get older; recently, in fact, I had a week or two of moderate esophageal reflux.
Greasy spoons are some of my favorite spots, though. One of my favorite greasy spoons is the Deluxe Grill at Mannheim and Lake in Stone Park, Illinois. It's not exactly in the best neighborhood (after dark), but it's not in the worst either. Fairly accessible from both the Tri-state and the Eisenhower. It's a classic, and it's been around for ages.
Quote from: Road Hog on September 03, 2012, 05:41:27 AM
Has anyone driving south of Nashville actually ever seen Rock City?
Surely I can't be the only one here that's been to Rock City? Kind of pointless, but living in Florida, I don't get to play around mountains and big rocks much, so it was worth the trip (although, from Alabama). Also checked out Ruby Falls, which is a little more kitschy by comparison. Going early helps, too. The tour isn't interrupted by other groups as often, due to some very narrow passageways.
Coral Castle outside Homestead, Florida is a bit of a disappointment.
We stopped by South of the Border back in mid-2010. It's a little worn, but considering its longevity, that should come as no surprise. We stopped for a bathroom break, and I bought a gag item in the gift shop. We weren't hungry, so we moved on. I think a lot of standards set by chain restaurants has probably changed the ideals of many a middle-class American, and a lot of these types of places aren't as ideal as they might have once been.
Quote from: kphoger on September 11, 2012, 11:37:21 AM
Deluxe Grill
Apparently I had already mentioned this one upthread. Dang it!
Has anybody else stopped at Carhenge in Nebraska's panhandle?
Quote from: kphoger on September 11, 2012, 05:10:19 PM
Quote from: kphoger on September 11, 2012, 11:37:21 AM
Deluxe Grill
Apparently I had already mentioned this one upthread. Dang it!
Has anybody else stopped at Carhenge in Nebraska's panhandle?
How does it compare to Route 66's Cadillac Ranch?
Quote from: Scott5114 on September 11, 2012, 05:20:27 PM
Quote from: kphoger on September 11, 2012, 05:10:19 PM
Has anybody else stopped at Carhenge in Nebraska's panhandle?
How does it compare to Route 66's Cadillac Ranch?
Here's an online photo gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/dlgphoto/carhenge_2007 (http://www.pbase.com/dlgphoto/carhenge_2007)
Quote from: kphoger on September 11, 2012, 11:37:21 AM
I've had painful poos and heaves from good old U.S. chain restaurants, so there's that.
Cue someone quoting the Bathroom Bandit in 3, 2, 1...
Forgot about a really touristy (and expensive) roadside attraction.
Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA. It's one of those things where you go to it once, and you're good. Kind of cool, seeing stairs that don't go anywhere, rooms added on that don't look the least bit structurally sound, a seance room, etc.
But it's expensive for what's basically a tourist trap.
Quote from: OCGuy81 on September 21, 2012, 10:33:49 AM
Forgot about a really touristy (and expensive) roadside attraction.
Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA. It's one of those things where you go to it once, and you're good. Kind of cool, seeing stairs that don't go anywhere, rooms added on that don't look the least bit structurally sound, a seance room, etc.
But it's expensive for what's basically a tourist trap.
Heh, I've lived in the San Jose area for my entire life and I have
never been to the Winchester Mystery House! :-D
Quote from: OCGuy81 on September 21, 2012, 10:33:49 AM
Forgot about a really touristy (and expensive) roadside attraction.
Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA. It's one of those things where you go to it once, and you're good. Kind of cool, seeing stairs that don't go anywhere, rooms added on that don't look the least bit structurally sound, a seance room, etc.
But it's expensive for what's basically a tourist trap.
It's worth seeing once. There's architectural interest in the finished rooms, as well as in the floorplan that includes stairs to nowhere, etc. To me, it's only a tourist trap if it's not worth seeing even once. :-D
Buc-ees (specifically the one in Luling,TX, off I-10)
The original Varsity in Atlanta
Quik-Trips in Georgia
Last but not least--a Clemson,SC,establishment almost always mentioned whenever Clemson's football games are on TV. I may be the only person who likes the Esso part better than the Club part. :sombrero:
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 16, 2012, 12:12:08 PM
The "Worlds Largest McDonalds" in Vinita, OK is neat but I avoid it because I've found that it has terrible service. When going that way I tend to either eat in Tulsa or Joplin.
And terrible food, even by McDonald's standards.
Quote from: msubulldog on September 21, 2012, 07:59:21 PM
Buc-ees (specifically the one in Luling,TX, off I-10)
The original Varsity in Atlanta
Quik-Trips in Georgia
Last but not least--a Clemson,SC,establishment almost always mentioned whenever Clemson's football games are on TV. I may be the only person who likes the Esso part better than the Club part. :sombrero:
Good choice on the Varsity! I suggest (from personal experience) that the service you get will be much more friendlier if you use their jargon for ordering, and in quick fashion.
Sadly, QuikTrips in Georgia are fading away (but slowly). QuikTrip is big around St. Louis and it is headquartered in OKC.
Quote from: myosh_tino on September 05, 2012, 12:08:37 PM
Quote from: NYYPhil777 on September 03, 2012, 05:13:19 AM
I Googled the Nut Tree, yes, it's still there. Unfortunately, it's more of a strip mall than a roadside attraction. At least that what it looked like in my opinion.
It's "still there" but in name only. All of the rides, attractions and shops were torn down in the mid-90's only to be replaced with a large shopping center about a decade later.
Edit: the airport is still there and I believe it's still called the Vacaville-Nut Tree Airport.
We used to stop at the Nut Tree on trips between Sacramento and Oakland...rode the train, ate the mini-burgers in the restaurant...their book store/gift shop had a great collection of aviation books and posters.
Quote from: kkt on September 21, 2012, 02:45:21 PM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on September 21, 2012, 10:33:49 AM
Forgot about a really touristy (and expensive) roadside attraction.
Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA. It's one of those things where you go to it once, and you're good. Kind of cool, seeing stairs that don't go anywhere, rooms added on that don't look the least bit structurally sound, a seance room, etc.
But it's expensive for what's basically a tourist trap.
It's worth seeing once. There's architectural interest in the finished rooms, as well as in the floorplan that includes stairs to nowhere, etc. To me, it's only a tourist trap if it's not worth seeing even once. :-D
I hadn't been there in probably 30 years, but went again on my last trip there...overpriced, but some really interesting Victorian craftsmanship in addition to the weird factor. It's making something of a comeback now with all the "ghost hunter"-type shows.
On my way home on that trip I stopped at the Casa de Fruta on CA-152 outside of Gilroy. They used to have the "World Famous" Cup Flipper...as they added services and attractions everything had "Casa de" as the title...Casa de Restaurant, Casa de Wine, Casa de Choo Choo, etc.
I love to stop at Bingham's Restaurant in Lenox, PA just off I-81. It's halfway between NYC and Rochester, a trip I used to make pretty often, and sometimes still do. But for several years I had no real occasion to make that trip, and during that hiatus the place was burned to the ground, rebuilt and reopened, such that on my most recent visit, it had been so long that I didn't even notice at first that it was a whole new building!
But anyway, it's just a great down-home family restaurant vibe, and famous for its homemade pies.
Earlier, I mentioned that barbecue shack along I-95 & US 301 south of the Davis Travel Center in Virginia that I've been curious about for years. But Davis Travel Center itself has always been a place I liked.
http://www.dtc33.com/
It may be just a glorified convenience store for truck driver and other long distance travelers, but that's okay with me. I went up and down the coast with my mother this September and I got sick from one of my younger relatives, and I wanted to get a home remedy from there(Andy Capp's Hot Fries; Good for bad sinuses). My mom didn't even remember how to get to the place, let alone the name of it, but I did.
http://www.dtc33.com/102A.HTML
:biggrin:
There are also a couple of original (1981) state-name I-95 shields at the intersection of SR 602 (the road that you use to access the DTC) and US 301.
Quote from: Special K on September 10, 2012, 10:52:31 AM
The Depot is indeed the old RR depot. Mitchell used to have a fairly important yard, complete with turntable and roundhouse, if you're into the RR stuff.
Don't tempt me.
:poke: :D
A little update regarding "South of the Border," on my recent drive up and down the coast, they tore down a lot of the old motel on the North Carolina side.
Another good choice is the Cozy Restaurant (http://www.cozyvillage.com/) in Thurmont, Maryland, off of U.S. 15 (Catoctin Mountain Highway) between Frederick and Gettysburg, Penna. Decent down-home food with a touch of quirkiness.
Thurmont is located "down the mountain" from Camp David, and supposedly some of the folks that have various types of employment associated with that facility come to the Cozy, though I don't know if that is accurate or not.
Quote from: Landshark on September 03, 2012, 01:03:59 AM
Some of my favorites are:
Country Cousin restaurant off of I-5 in Centralia, WA. Huge cinnamon rolls. Used to stop there on every road trip to California. Before all of those factory outlets came in next door, it was a significant landmark along I-5.
I was there on Saturday for the first time in over a decade. The place is still amazing. Best chicken fried steak I have had in a long time. The chicken fried steak, potatoes, biscuit, and apple butter were all made from scratch. Best breakfast stop between Seattle and Portland that I am aware of.
Last trip up to Oregon, we stopped at the Olive Pit in Corning, CA. Not a bad place to stop at. About a block from the freeway, lots of great varieties of olives if you like em (got some blue cheese and jalapeno stuffed kind), olive oils, and a cafe that makes pretty decent sandwiches.